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Thursday, 11 May 2017

UN DECORATES RWANDAN POLICE PEACEKEEPERS IN DARFUR

Eighteen Rwandan police
peacekeepers serving under the African Union-United Nations Hybrid Mission in
Darfur (UNAMID) were on Tuesday decorated with medal of service excellence.

The medal parade presided over by
the Joint Special Representative (JSR) to UNAMID, Kingsley Mamabolo was held in
the mission headquarters. The decorated officers currently in their final phase
of their one year peacekeeping mandate, serve as Individual Police officer
(IPOs), whose duty include mentorship and advisory. A minute of silence was
also observed to pay tribute to all peacekeepers who lost their lives in the
line of duty.

He thanked them for their
resilience and standing challenges in protecting civilians and humanitarian
assistance which brought “tangible dividends to the affected.” The Joint
Special Representative further commended the medalists for their
professionalism and discipline, and maintaining the image set by other previous
Rwandan Police peacekeepers.

He also commended them for introducing
home-grown solutions such as community policing while respecting the culture
and values of the people of Darfur. Senior Supt. Bernard Mukama, the Rwandan
Contingent Commander thanked the people of Darfur for their partnership in
restoring normalcy, and the support by UN to effectively execute their duties.